Shapps alerted to social landlord's private sector leasing success

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Featured

The housing minister Grant Shapps wants to hear more about a housing association's private sector leasing scheme in the Midlands that has private landlords wanting to build homes specifically for it.

The details of the scheme, run by Derbyshire-based Futures Homescape, were explained to Shapps during a conversation he had with 24housing magazine's Young Leader of the Year, Sara Parkin.

Parkin, 30, was crowned this year's winner beating off strong competition from Helena Partnerships' Rachel Molyneux, Stockport Homes' Joanne Claridge, Midland Heart's Hannah Boyd and former Homes for Haringey employee Aaron Peake.

The private sector leasing scheme kicked off in April and hit its target of placing 10 homeless families into accommodation within its first month.

Private sector lease schemes are used by housing associations to accommodate homeless families and see the private landlord paid directly by the provider who maintains the upkeep of the home for the period of the lease.

Parkin, Futures' housing advice manager told Shapps: "We've actually got landlords coming to us to build homes for the private sector leasing scheme.

"One landlord wants to build properties just for veterans, some will even come to us and ask where to build. They want long-term leases for five to seven years.

“Certain landlords have also suggested to us that their mortgage costs are reduced by up to two percent should they engage with a reputable landlord/ provider.”

See our Top 30 under 30 housing professionals here.